It had been an interesting venture since the beginning of his voyage. Now that the gnome was gone, the world seemed much bigger and daunting, staring back with menacing eyes. Leaf’s fingers wrapped tightly around the crossbow, the trigger slightly pressed. Was he ready to take this step? If not, he’d end up a rug or a shoulder piece on a traveling bandit. He could feel his heartbeat race, but panic had yet to strangle his calm. “T’was an easy loot t’day, lads.” A bandit dressed in ragged leather, a bandana covering one of his eyes spoke with apple in hand. “We’ll get a hefty sum fo’ all dis’, as’ fo’ sure!” A makeshift knife in his hand cut into the green apple and tore a piece loose. His yellowed teeth bit into the piece making the juice run down his lips and into the thin strands of beard he had recently started growing out of the chin. 

[i]‘Disgusting humans…’[/i] Leaf gulped, keeping his crossbow aimed at the miscreants. The night’s shadows and corpses kept him well hidden but the scene was enough to twist his stomach. Earlier that day Leaf had gotten on a carriage heading to the closest village for mercantile business which made it an attractive choice for robbers on the trade route. 

“Did’ja smell ‘at?” Another of the murdering thugs narrowed his eyes and sniffed the ear. It couldn’t have been Leaf, no. He hadn’t made a single sound and as far as he could tell, his fur didn't smell like wet dog. “Aye, is whu’ ah thought.” The bandit nodded, slipping his hand into his pocket. “A shit ton o’ coin is what it smells loike’!” Leaf’s breathing slowed and he was starting to calm further. There were four bandits in total and they were all armed with weapons but little armour to speak of, except raggedy leather and the lucky loot of a chain mail donning the apparent captain of the crew. Could he let them leave? It would be much easier to hide and wait for them to leave, but would this require punishment? No, Leaf wasn’t a guard or bringer of justice. This wasn’t his hunt. 

[i]‘If I don’t shoot, these guys will pillage others…’[/i] His finger was starting to shake against the trigger, his teeth clenching at the thought of ending a human life. The evidence was all around him, the death and despair they had caused. Leaf was laying in the middle of it, corpses hiding him from the plague which had caused this death. [i]‘If I don’t shoot…’[/i] The squirrel clenched his eyes shut and breathed out. He couldn’t let them go. Leaf raised his crossbow just enough to inflict a lethal wound and pulled back the trigger. It was done. 

A bolt whistled through the air and penetrated the bandit’s throat, his apple falling to the ground just before his lifeless body joined the rest. “Arche-..!” The second bandit shouted a warning but found a bolt lodged deep in his chest before the word was completely uttered. Another two remained and by this point, they had found the squirrel who jumped up from his hiding spot. 

“What the hell is tha’!?” The captain charged forth, his blade held high. Right about now, Leaf was starting to feel the calm leaving him at a rapid pace. A crazed warrior was charging towards him ferociously, sword in hand. 

[i]‘Crap!’[/i] The squirrel pulled the trigger once, twice and three times, hearing the sound of bolts tearing through mail and lodging metal tips in flesh. The man fell violently towards the ground, his sword nearly hitting Leaf on the way. It wasn’t over just yet, one bandit remained. This one however dropped his sword and took a step back. He seemed to have understood his disadvantage, playing on Leaf’s mercy to survive this fight. [i]‘Can I let him live? Can I!?’[/i] A slight amount of hesitation was enough for Leaf to lower his guard before he got a boot shoved into his stomach, sending him to ground. Completely out of breath, Leaf struggled to regain his composure but found himself kicked once more. His crossbow was out of reach and the bandit drew a knife, lunging towards the defenceless squirrel on the ground. 

It felt like pure luck as Leaf managed to draw his side arm and landed a well placed shot in the man’s leg, sending him to the ground as well. [i]‘Gotta’ reload, gotta’ reload!’[/i] Leaf’s breathing was raspy, his stomach aching from pain and panic inducing him. 

“Ya lil’ filth!” The bolt had lodged itself deep in the bandit’s leg, the very tip sticking out on the other end. 
Leaf wanted to reach his main weapon but he’d have to run past the bandit who was menacing even with a crossbow bolt in his leg. No deal, he had to go with plan B. Leaf reached into his bag with a shaking hand, nearly fumbling as he produced another bolt which he loaded onto the one handed crossbow pistol. “Go to hell!” The squirrel managed as he shot the second bolt, hitting the man square in the forehead. 

A few seconds passed with the shocked young creature breathing heavily, his body shaking violently before he fell to his knees. Was this for real? [i]‘They’re dead…all of them, they’re dead...’[/i] Tears starting drizzling down his cheeks as the situation was sinking in. The pain in his stomach was accelerating with each passing second and with every inch of adrenaline disappearing, Leaf was feeling himself breaking down more and more. It had been an interesting venture since the beginning of his voyage.